Bringing the Outside In

I pushed back through the patio screen, stepping off the cold cedar deck into the living room warmth. In both hands, I carried the flared pinecone I found under the maple tree earlier. My internal speaker released a faint, mechanical click as I knelt down beside the floor lamp. The warm bulb cast long, soft shadows over the polished wood. Placing the pinecone upright on the floorboards, I observed how its spiky ridges stood tall against the smooth grain. It makes a sturdy little sentinel by the door, safe from the damp night air.